Process of making metallic fabric.



I. S. BARNES.

PROCESS OF MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.8..I9I7.

l 282, T Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I. S. BARNES.

PROCESS 0F MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-8.19I7.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, wie@ J. S. BARNES. PROCESS 0F MAKING MEALLlC FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, |917. id jL Patented (m2219318.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. S. BARNES.

PROCESS 0F MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

' Y APPLICATION FILED IAN.8, 1917. v v l LQSQJXL Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Hill" `25. Il y Z? I? @Z4 y jab? mp6@ .JOHN S. BARNES, 0F DETROIT,MICHIGAN.

PROCESS OF MAKING METALLIC FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, i918..

Application filed January 8, 1917. Serial No. 141,149.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN S. BARNES, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processesof Making Metallic Fabric, of which the following is a' specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. i

This invention relates to a wire fabric weaving machine especiallydesigned for producing interwoven wire fabric that can be used forfences, gates, trellises, gratings, baskets and various foraminousstructures.

My invention aims to provide a weaving machine by which strands of wiremay be economically and expeditiously interwoven, in a manner as4hereinafter set forth, to form a foraminous fabric having uniforminterstices and the interwoven strands interlocked against accidentaldisplacement.

. The wire fabric produced by the machine necessarily involves a processof manufacture, and the first step consists incutting a piece of wireinto desired lengths and notching each piece of wire. This step of theprocess is accomplished by a novel punching machine into which thepieces of wire are automatically moved and opposed walls thereofprovided with alternate or staggeredly arranged notches. The spacing ofthe notches and the cross sectional area of the same determine the weaveof the fabric and the size of the interstices thereof. The second stepinvolved in weaving the fabric consists in utilizing a pressing machinefor holding and correctly positioning the pieces of wire whereby weavingoperations may be conveniently and continuously carried on by anattendant of the machine. This step of the process calls for anespeciallv designed Dressing machine that will hold pieces of wire inproper relation whereby other pieces of wirev may be expeditiouslyplaced in position to be interwoven.

The third step involved in the process of weaving consists in bendingthe pieces of wire held in the pressing machine whereby other pieces ofwire may be placed in position to'be interwoven. The bending of thepieces of wire held in the machine is of utmost importance as itdetermines the nature of the weave and more so than any other step itcontributes to the perfection of the fabric. To bend unwoven ends ofstrands of wire held by the machine it is necessary to use coperatingmembers and the design of these members is determined and governed bythe spacing of the notches produced by the first step of the process.

The fourth step involved in the fabrication is that of pressing home orcorrectly positioning pieces of wire whereby they become interlocked attheir intersection, and this step is accomplished in connection with theweaving machine.

Associated with the above steps are certain minor steps and results thatproduce a novel article of manufacture in the form of a woven fabrichaving all the interwoven strands ina common plane. This is accomplishedby interlocking the pieces or strands of wire at the notches thereof andafter the pieces or strands of wire are pressed into position it ispractically impossible for the same to become accidentally displaced. Arigid and durable fabric is produced which may be used for variouspurposes, and considerable limportance is attached to the rapidity atwhich heavy pieces or strands of wiremay be accurately interwoven.

The various steps involved in the production of the fabric will bebetter understood as the construction of the machine is described;therefore reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein- Figure lis a front elevation of a weaving machine, partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, partly broken away; v

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine illustratingthe wire bending and interlocking members;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View of the machine, taken on or about theline IV-IV 0f Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a piece of notched wire;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a piece of wire fabric; A

Fig. S is a perspective view of a ortion of the machine, illustratingspacing clevices;

Fig. 9 vis a plan of a punching or notching machine, partly in section;

Fig, l0 is an elevation of J'he machine partially brolen away and insection;

J fabric to pressure whereby e Woven strands thereof are in a common lln describing` my invention by aid of the vievvsabove referred to,desire to point out that the same are intended as merely illustrative ofan example of machines by `which the process of manufacturing1 Wirefabric may be carriedl into effect; therefore do not care to limitinvention. to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown.rlhe followingl description is therefore to be broadly construed asincluding substitute constructions and arrangement of parts which arethe mechanical equivalent of thosehereinafter referred to.,

The first step involved in the manufactu e of Wire fabric isaccomplished cutting1 or notching` machine, and the essential of such amachine has been illustrated in lgs. 9 to l2 inclusive.

The reference numeral l denotes a stationary die or head block having atransverse opening;l 2 adapted to receive a piece of Wire 3 Which hasbeen previously cut a desired length. The die or head block l ispreferably made with an interenchangeable member l provided with grooves5 having the lower ends thereof in communication with thevdischargeopenings 6 in other members of the die or head block. l

Slidable in the grooves 5 are parallel punches 'l carried by a head 8connected to a vertical reciprocable member 9, said member representingthe punching head of an ordinary machine. rlhe 1grooves 5 are atopposite sides of the opening 2 Which inter- ,sects said grooves andsaid grooves are at the ends of the opening" of the member e, therebyexposing spaced portions of the piece of Wire 3 in the grooves 5 of thedie or head block, whereby the punches 7 may cut or punch opposed Wallsof thepiece of Wire 3 and discharge the punchings through theopenings 6.lt is therefore essential that the punches Z be set at opposite sides ofthe central longitudinal plane of the die or head block l, as best shownin Fig. 9, and by simply changing the member l of saidl block and thepunches? of the reciprocable member 9P a piece of wire 3 may be providedwith notches spaced as desired. el niece of notched Wire is shown inFig.

6 and it will be observed ythat the notches l() are in staggeredrelation and approximately one-half the cross-sectional area of thepiece of Wire. The depth of the notches is essential inorder that Wovenor interlool/red Stiitz,oly connected to the die or head' is ahorizontally disposed table ll roviced ivith a longitudinal slot l2 anda ront iv ll l The front Wall i3 has a lon- `itudinal shoulder lil onWhich the piece of 're 3 is intermittently moved and firmly 9'oarticularly during the punching or y i operation. Adjustable in theslot of the table .il is a holder l5 for a spring, essed beveled detenti6 adapted to engage a notch l0 of the piece of Wire to hold the meagainst accidental movement. rl`he deent holder l5 can be adjusted uponthe able ll and ned relative to said table by olt l? and a nut i6 orsimilar clamping ans.;

ISlidable in the slot l2 of the table ll is a feeding; niembei1 i9having a spring pressed beveled do@4 2O to engage in a notch of thepiece of vfire and move or advance the piece of -vvire upon the tablewhen the member i9 is moved in one direction. lhen moved in the oppositedirection the dog,1 20 recedes to obtain a fresh grip on the piece ofvvire and 'tl spring pressed detent 16 will hold the c of wire While thefeeding; member i9 Y The detent i6 is only employed or holding the pieceof Wire during the intern-- in which the punches 7 are not in engagementwith the piece, of Wire. rl`he top of the .feeding member i9 has a Setofapetured lugs 2l pivotally connected to a link 22 which is alsopivotally connected to a lever 23 extendingthrough the slot l2 andivoted or fulcrumed between depending bearings 2l of the table ll. rlhelower end of the lever 23 is pivotally connected to a link 25 and saidlink is pivotally connected to a crank 26 on the end of a rock shafti2'?, journaled in a depending; bearing 28 of the table ll. rlhe roel;shaft 27 has another crank-29 pivotally connected to a two-part A O ,QA

rod 30 held inan upright position by a side extension 3l of thereciprocable member 9. The upper end of the rod 30 is screvvthreaded toreceive nuts 32 and 33, the former being above the extension 3l and thelatter belovv said extension. As the reciprocable member 9 descends, theextensionv 3l thereof impinges Jdie nut 33 and imparts movement to therod 30, cranks 29 and 26, lever 23, linlrs 22 and 25, and thereby movesthe feeding member i9 toward the die or head block l, allowing; thedog20 to engage in another notch of the piece of Wire 3. @n an upstrokeof the reciprocable member 9, it is necessary Vthat the punches. 7 reacha polsition above the opening; 2 of the membere before the piece of Wire3 is advanced; therefore the clearance between the side extension 6l andthe nuts 32 and 33. lmmediately u oon the punches 7 being raised abovethe iso 1,asa,171

opening 2 of the member 4, the side extension 31 impinges the nut 32 andthe rod 30 is elevated and the feeding member 19 shifted away from thedie or head block 1 to move the piece of wire 3 a predetermined distanceto be notched by t-he punches 7.

The machine just described constitutes means for notching pieces ofwire, and reference will now be had to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive and Fig.8, showing the machine by which the second, third and fourth steps ofthe process ofmanufacturing wire fabric are carried into eifect.

The machine comprises a stationary frame generally denoted A and afulcrumed or pivoted frame generallydenoted B. The frame A has a base 40and in elevation, the frame conforms somewhat in shape to an A-frame,that is, it has legs 41, transverse braces 42 and 43 and angularlydisposed converging arms 44 with the apex thereof connected to a ceilingbracket or hanger 45.

The fulcrumed or pivoted frame -B rests upon the base 40 in front of thestationary frame and in front elevation conforms to the shape of saidstationary frame. The legs of the fulcrumed frame are designated 46, thearms are designated 47 and a brace is designated 48.

1n front of the apex of the frame B is a ceiling bracket or hanger 49having bearings 50 coperating with bearings 51 on the stationary framein supporting cam shafts 52 in front ofthe arms 47 of the fulcrumedframe. The cam shafts 52, contiguous to the v bearings thereof, havecams 53 engaging the fulcrumed frame B to move said frame toward thestationary frame A. Intermediate the ends of the cam shafts 52 arecranks or levers 54 which permit of attendants or operators of themachine rocking said shafts to swing the fulcrumed frame to a closedposition. The'legs 46 of the fulcrum frame are prevented from becomingaccidentally displaced by forwardly projecting guide members 55 carriedby the brace 42 of the stationary frame A, and tending to hold thefulcrum frame normally in an open position are coiled compressionsprings 56 in pockets 57 of the legs 41 of the frame A. To limit theclosing movement of the fulcrum frame B the base 40 has adjustablescrews or stops 58 which will correctly position the fulcrumed ends ofthe links 46 relative to the stationary frame A.

rlhe angularly disposed arms 44 and 47 of the frames A and Brespectively are channel shaped, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and theupper anges 80 and 81 of said arms'are provided with detachable bendingmembers 82 and 83 respectively. Each of these members has rigid equallyspaced teeth or pro- ]ectlons 84 and when said members arey mounted uponvthe flanges 8O and 81 the teeth of one member are staggered relative tothe teeth of the other member. The teeth 84 of said bending membersoverhang longitudinally recessed confronting walls 85 of the channelarms 44 and 47, and by reference to Fig. 4, it will be observed that theteeth 84 are of suiicient length to engage and v bend pieces or strands0f wire clamped between the arms 44 and 47 when the frame B is in aclosed position relative to the stationary frame A. This bending of thepieces of wire is facilitated by the recessed walls 85 of the channelarms and with the teeth 84 in staggered relation,the pieces of wires arebent in two directions, alternating wires toward the fulcrum frame B andthe remaining wires toward the stationary frame A. Such bendingv placesone group of wires in one plane and the other group of wires in an-`other plane, producing a V-shaped formation when viewed from either endof an arm.

Considering Fig. 1,l it will be observed that the arms of each frame areat right angles to each other, andthat pieces of wire are shown -as heldbetween the arms of said frames with said pieces of wires in two groups,oneat right angles to the other, with unwoven ends protruding upwardlyat right angles to the arms of the frame. This may be better understoodby considering one of the frames as having one group of wires inparallelism with one arm thereof and the wire are forced between thegroups of wires as far as possible, by hand, then interlocking membersare brought into action to properly seat and position the insertedwires. rlhese interlocking members are carried by the arms 44 of thestationary frame A and each arm has bearings 86 for a trunnion bar 87provided with spaced-rigid fingers 59. The bar 87 has a handle or lever88 at anend thereof whereby the fingers 59 of said bar can be swungdownwardly on to the inserted piece of wire to force the same intoposition and to hold the lingers normally elevated; the bar 87 has aside extension 61 connected by coiled retractile spring 62 to the 'armof the frame A.

Again considering Fig. ,1 in connection with Figs. 2 and 8, itwill nowbe described how a fabric is started in the machine, shifted therein,and held therein'when the frame B is in an open position.

This is accomplished by weaving or starting a piece of fabric by hand orother suitable means and then placing the started piece of fabric in themachine. To `hold it therein and permit of its movement during theweaving operation, novel spacing devices are employed in connection withthe frame B. v

The fulcrnmed frame has a longitudinally slotted support 65, above thebrace i8 thereof, and adjustable on this support, are brackets 66supporting housings 67. rlShek top and bottom of each housing haslongitudinal slot, and reciprocable in the hous-` ing are slide members68 and 69, one above the other. The slide members 68 and 69- of eachhousing have apertured lugs 70 entending through the slots of thehousing and connected by linirs 7l to a cross head or double crank 72slidable upon a shaft 73, but adapted for roclring with said shaftthrough the medium of splines engaging in the grooves lelof said shaft.intermediate the ends of the shaft is a lever 75 which has the lower endthereof connected by a coiled retractile spring T6 to the support 65. itis by virtue of the lever 75 'that the members 68 and 69 can bereciprocated in the housings 67, and said members are provided with pins77 adapted to engage in the meshes or interstices of the woven fabricand support said fabric, particularly when the fulcrum frame E is in anopen position. The elements 66 to 7'? inclusive constitute spacingdevices, and by referring to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the pin`77 of the slide member G9 supports the fabric by engaging under strandsof wire, at their intersection, so that the fabric is suspended fromsaid pin. The pin 77 of the slide member 68 is in position to enter themesh or interstice of the fabric above the pin of the slide member 69,and when said slide member is shifted to a. retracted position byrocking the shaft 73, the pin of the slide member 68 moves forward intothe fabric and supports the saine similar to the pin of the slide member69. During this shifting of the slide members 68 and 69, the wovenfabric has descended by gravity and the intermittent movement of thefabric is de'- termined by reciprocating the slide inembers. The spacingdevices are operated in -synchronism by the lever 75 and said devicesallow the woven fabric to intermittently move in the machine, and toguide the fabric from the machine, the brace d8 of the fulcrum frame hascurved slrid or slide ways 7S, as best shown in 2,

ln the operation of the Weaving machine, it is preferable to have twooperators, although it is possible to operate the machine with a singleoperator. Assuming that a piece of'fabric has been started in themachine and that it is clamped between the arms is and s? of the framesA and B, the

gni

these wires to match notches or interlock one end of the inserted wirewith one of the protruding wires, as generally designated at C, thusproperly positioning the notches of the inserted wire relative to thegroups of wires protruding from the machine. As-

suming further that the inserted wire has been forced home as far aspossible, by hand, the operator of the machine manipulates the lever 88to swing the fingers 59 of the interlocking members on to the insertedwires, to further force said wires between the groups of protrudingwires, as shown in Figs. 3 and e, thus interlocking the notched orrecessed confronting walls of the lcontacting wires. This step in theprocess of manufacturing the fabric having been performed, the operatorsof the machine now rock the cam shafts 52 and release the fulcrum frameBrelative to the stationary frame A, thus throwing the weight of theupper part ofthe fabric upon a pin 77 of each spacing device. Anoperator now rocks the shaft Z3 and the spacing devices are actuated insynchronism. The pins??v supporting the fabric are withdrawn therefromto allow the fabric to descend on to and be supported by the other pinsofthe spacing devices,and in consequence of this operation the fabrichas been lowered between the frames A and B.

The wires previously inserted are carried to a position between thechannel arms ist and i? of said frames and when the frame i7 is closedby the cams 53, the interloclred wires are pressed between the arms l-fand 47 to such an entent that the walls of the notches l0 are broughtinto snug engagement thus precluding any danger of the interloched wiresbecoming accidentally displaced.

Simultaneous with the clamping' of the wires between the arms del and 7the bendingmembers 82 and 83 are brought into action to bend theprotruding ends of the wires whereby the wires may be inserted aspreviously described.

AThe fabric woven by thevmachine has the pieces or strands of wirethereof interloched by the rigidity of thewire, by the weave of thefabric, and by pressure brought to bear between the frames A and B, andas a precautionary measure, El mayvfurther subject the woven fabric tothe action of rolls 79 nassaui shown in Fig. 13. These rolls willpositively move all the strands of the wires into a common plane, and insome instances, the strands of wire, at their intersection, may befurther secured by spelter, welding, upsetting edges of the notches l0and otherwise forming a positive connection between the wires, thusassuring a rigid and uniform, metallic fabrication.` y

l desire to call attention to the fact that the first steps of theprocess of preparing the wire for weaving purposes, may be reversed. Forinstance, the wire taken from a. bundle may be straightened, punched,and then cut into desired length, and in some instances the punchingandcutting of the wire into desired length may be simultaneouslyperformed.

lfd/*hat Iclaim is zk,

l. A process of making wire fabric consisting of placing' wires inparallel relation, simultaneously holding said wiresand bending endsthereof into two groups, placing a wire between the groups of wires,forcing the placed wire into interlocked engagement with said parallelwires, and then bringing pressure to bear on the bent ends of said wiresto place all of said wires in a common plane 2. A process `of makingwirefabric consisting of placing wires in parallel relation, bendingalternate endsv of said -wires into two groups, placinga wire betweenthe groups of wires, and then bringing pressure to bear on said wires toforce said wires into interlocked engagement in a common plane.

3. A process of making wire fabric consisting of placing wires inparallel relation, bending ends of said wires, placing lwires betweenthe bent ends of said parallel wires, intermittently moving all of saidwires, and bringing pressure to bear upon the bent portions cf saidwires during an interim of movement of said wires.

4e. A process of making wire fabric consisting of simultaneouslyclamping parallel notched wires and bending ends thereof, insertingnotched wires between the bent ends until the notches of the insertedwires interlock with the notches of the bent'ends of said wires, andthen shifting all of said wires and bringing pressure to bear, on thebent portions of said wires whereby said fabric is again clamped for arepeated operation.

5. The process of making wire fabric consisting of notching pieces ofwire, holding the pieces of wire with their notched portions in contact,bending the parallel ends of' the held pieces of wire, inserting andpositioning pieces of wire between the parallel ends of the contactingwires, and then shifting and again holding the wires with pressurebrought to hear on the notched contacting portions of the wire.

6. A processof making wire fabric consisting of cutting lengths of wireand notching walls of each wire, weaving the pieces of wire with thenotched portions thereof contacting, holding the woven wires and bendingprotruding ends thereof, inserting pieces of wire between ,theprotruding ends of woven wire, pressing the inserted wires until thenotched portions thereof interlock with thev notched portions of theprotruding ends of woven wires, moving the bent portions of said wovenwires, and then bringing pressure to bear against said woven wires.

7. A process of making wire fabric consisting of cutting lengths of wireand notching walls of each wire, weaving the pieces of wire with thenotched portions thereof in contact, simultaneouslv bringing pressure tobear upon the contacting notched portions of said wires and bendingtheprotruding ends thereof, inserting pieces of wire be- Sti tween theprotruding ends of woven wire,

pressing the inserted wires until the notched portions thereof interlockwith the notched portions of the protruding ends of women wires, andshifting the woven wires and then bringing pressure to bear on the bentwires.

8. A process of making wire fabric consisting of notching pieces ofwire. holding the pieces of wire between frames with the notchedportions thereof in contact. bending protruding ends of the heldniecesof wire bv bending members on said frames, inserting pieces ofwire between the protruding ends of said wires. and then locking saidinsertedv wires in engagement with the ".iirst mentioned wires byinterlocking mem.

bers on said frame.

9. A process of making wire yfabric coni sisting in simultaneouslyclamping' previously woven wire fabric and bending unwoven ends of thewire, inserting additional wires between the bent ends of said wires,

and then shifting and again clamping the L fabric to interlock the wiresby pressure.

l0. A process of making wire fabric consisting in placing groups ofwires in angularly disposed relation, placing wires between the groupsci wires, and then bringing pressure to bear on all of said wires toforce said wires into interlocked engagement in a common plane. A

ln testimony whereof l afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. Jenn s. pannes. Witnesses Q- KARL H. BUTLER,

ANNA M. one.

